Million Field Only A Bit Deflated

August 21, 1993|By Neil Milbert, Tribune Staff Writer.

The transcontinental cast for the unlucky 13th running of the Arlington Million on Aug. 29 was announced Friday.

Even though last month's outbreak of equine viral arteritis at the track has caused the trainers of several thoroughbred stars to send their regrets, the quality of the field warrants a favorable review.

Over a span of four months, they have clashed at four tracks in four states.

Lure won the first two-the Early Times Turf Classic at Churchill and the Early Times Dixie at Pimlico-and Star of Cozzene was a stretch-running second.

Star of Cozzene came from behind to overtake Lure and win the next two-the Early Times Manhattan at Belmont and the Caesars International at Atlantic City. And, in each of these races, Lure was the runner-up.

"They are just two outstanding horses," said Star of Cozzene's trainer, Mark Hennig, after the Caesars. "If we weren't around, Lure would be winning these races by as far as he wanted by a hand ride."

Since that last rendezvous, each horse has run once at Saratoga but in different races.

Lure regained his winning form by coasting to a three-length triumph in the Daryl's Joy.

Star of Cozzene, in stark contrast, had a turbulent, ultratough trip in the Bernard Baruch. Bumped and then bounced, he found himself hemmed along the rail until late in the race. When he finally found running room, he made a valiant charge to finish second, a length back of Furiously, whose 1 1/8-mile time of 1:45 2/5 was a Saratoga turf course record.

Like Dear Doctor, Star of Cozzene is running in the Million for the second straight year. He spent the first portion of his 1992 campaign in France and represented that country when he came in ninth in the field of 12. In the intervening nine races, he has five wins and four places.

Meanwhile, Dear Doctor hasn't been able to find his way back to the winner's circle in seven subsequent starts. His travels have taken him to New York, France and Japan to meet the finest horses in the world. Three times he just missed-when he was second in the Man O' War at Belmont, third in the Japan Cup and second in the Prix d'Harcourt.

There will be one other European representative, Peter Davies of England, a lightly raced 4-year-old who was Group I winner as a 2-year-old.

Leger Cat and Johann Quatz are coming from California, which boasts the finest turf racing this side of Europe.

After holding the lead most of the way, Argentine-bred Leger Cat was a game second behind his vaunted stablemate, Kotashaan, in the Eddie Read at Del Mar, traditionally the top Million prep.

Johann Quatz made his last start in the ungraded Fiddle Isle Handicap and overcame a wide trip and a collision in the stretch to win by four lengths.

Completing the field are three horses who have spent the summer at Arlington-Evanescent, Little Bro Lantis and Coaxing Matt.

Evanescent is the star of the meeting by virtue of his three straight victories in graded stakes races-the Swoon's Son, Laurance Armour and Arlington Handicap-for his Chicago owner Mark Levy and trainer Lou Goldfine.

Little Bro Lantis was a wire-to-wire winner in the Stars and Stripes Handicap but then went to sick bay with EVA.

Coaxing Matt was third in the Stars and Stripes and seventh in the Arlington Handicap.